Rose plant

ABSTRACT

1. A new and distinct cultivar of rose of the floribunda class, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of its uniform shape; upright and heavily branched plant habit; large, leathery, mildew resistant foliage; abundant flowers of Blood Red (W) color.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of roseplant of the floribunda class which was originated by crossing thecultivar, Lilli Marlene, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,986, with pollen of anunnamed cultivar.

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a cultivar of thefloribunda class having a uniform habit of growth, relatively large,non-fading red blooms, with foliage resistant to various diseases. Thisobjective was fully achieved along with other desirable traits asevidenced by the following unique combination of characteristics whichare outstanding in the new cultivar and which distinguish it from itsparents as well as from all other cultivars of which I am aware:

1. A vigorous, well branched and upright plant of approximately threefeet in height at Irvine, Calif., resembling the cultivar Lilli Marlenebut having a more regular growth and better branching.

2. A strong resistance to Rose Powdery Mildew.

3. An abundance and continuity of blooms of a Blood Red (W) color.

4. A more upright habit of growth than the cultivar Europeana, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 2,540, which it resembles.

5. Distinctly different color of the anthers and filaments than inEuropeana as detailed below.

Asexual reproduction of this new cultivar by budding as performed atHazerswoude, Holland, and at Irvine, Calif., shows that the foregoingcharacteristics and distinctions come true to form and are establishedand transmitted through succeeding propagations.

The accompanying illustration shows typical specimens of the vegetativegrowth and flowers of this new cultivar in different stages ofdevelopment, depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

The following is a detailed description of my new rose cultivar withcolor terminology in accordance with Wilson's Horticultural Color Chart,except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated.

Parentage: Seedling.

Seed Parent.--Lilli Marlene, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,986.

Pollen Parent.--Unnamed seedling of Europeana, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,540by Kimono.

Classification:

Botanical.--Rose hybrid.

Commercial.--Floribunda.

FLOWER

Observations made from specimens grown at Irvine, Calif., October, 1975.

Blooming Habit: Continuous.

Bud:

Size.--Approximately 3/4" to 1" when petals start to unfurl.

Form.--Pointed ovoid, broad base.

Color.--When sepals first divide slightly darker than Cardinal Red(822). When half blown upper side of petals between Cardinal Red (822)and Blood Red (820). Lower side of petals near Cardinal Red (822/3).

Sepals.--Color: Outer surface Scheeles Green (860/1) overlaid in partwith Garnet Brown (00918/3) with scattered stipitate glands. Innersurface heavy covering of white tomentum over a color similar to outersurface. Three appendaged sepals lightly appendaged. Two unappendagedsepals hairy edged.

Receptacle.--Color: Scheeles Green (860/1) overlaid partly with a colorlighter than Garnet Brown (00918/3). Shape: apple. Surface: smooth,except having a few glands.

Peduncle.--Length: Short. Surface: glandular. Color: light green,bronzy. Strength: stiff, erect.

Opening.--Outer petals reflex without quilling, center petals remaincurled over flower parts until flower is fully open.

Bloom:

Size.--Medium. Average open size 21/2".

Borne.--In clusters, flat or irregular.

Stems.--Medium.

Form.--When first open, flat. Permanence, outer petals edges slightlycurled.

Petalage.--Number of petals under normal conditions 20-25.

Color.--Center of flower: Upper side of petals near Blood Red (820).Reverse side of petals near Cardinal Red (822/3). Base of petals smallarea of white. General tonality from a distance Blood Red (820).Variegations, some darkening of petal edges after several days open.

Discoloration.--General tonality at end of first day, little differencefrom freshly opened. On third day, only slightly darker than Blood Red(820) with some darker edges.

Fragrance.--Very slight.

Petals:

Texture.--Thick.

Shape.--Round.

Form.--Tips slightly recurved.

Arrangement.--Loosely imbricated. Petaloids in center, few.

Persistence.--Drop off cleanly.

Lastingness.--On the plant -- very long. As cut flower -- very long.

Reproductive Parts:

Anthers.--Medium, many. Color: near Chinese Yellow (606). Arrangement:regular around styles.

Filaments.--Color: near Uranium Green (63/2).

Pollen.--Lemon yellow.

Styles.--Color: near Uranium Green (63/2).

Stigmas.--Yellow.

PLANT

Form: Bush.

Growth: Very vigorous, upright, branching.

Foliage: Number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves usually 7.

Size.--Large.

Quantity.--Abundant.

Color.--New foliage: lighter than Spinach Green (0960/3) heavilyoverlaid with a color lighter than Garnet Brown (00918/3). Old foliage:near Spinach Green (0960/1).

Shape.--Oval.

Texture.--Leathery.

Edge.--Serrated.

Serration.--Single, large.

Petiole.--(rachis).--Color: green with upper edges being near GarnetBrown (00918/3). Underside: prickles.

Stipules.--Long and broad, edges having a few stipitate glands.

Disease Resistance.--Resistant to mildew under normal growing conditionsat Irvine, Calif.

Wood:

New Wood.--Color: light green, with brownish overlay. Bark, smooth.

Old Wood.--Color: green. Bark, smooth.

Prickles:

Quantity.--On main stalks from base, many. On laterals from stalk, many.

Form.--Broad base, long, hooked downward.

Color When Young.--Brown.

Position.--Irregular.

Small Prickles:

Quantity.--On main stalks, many. On laterals, many.

Color.--Brown.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of rose of the floribunda class,substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularlyas to novelty by the unique combination of its uniform shape; uprightand heavily branched plant habit; large, leathery, mildew resistantfoliage; abundant flowers of Blood Red (W) color.